Smith to stay on as Doctor Who

CB Droege, 14th August 2012

The good Doctor won't be regenerating for at least two seasons, despite a ceaseless stream of rumors about how Matt Smith will be ditching his role after the upcoming season of Doctor Who.

After all, Smith has been involved in a lot of other productions and television series recently, with multiple offers for more. Since Smith took on the role in the beloved series, he's become a popular commodity, and the actor is likely anxious to get his career moving forward.

However, it seems as if Smith has found a way to reconcile all of his new projects with Doctor Who - or perhaps the sparse shooting schedule of the show (caused by BBC budget cuts) has made it more feasible.

In any case, during an interview with Digital Spy the actor confirmed that he's signed a contract to stick with the role through the season after the one which is about to begin. If the shooting and airing schedule remains (they can only do half a season per year right now) this means that Smith will be playing the role until 2015.

He told the magazine that he already knows and loves the over arching plot for that next season. "It hasn’t been written yet but the idea is as brilliant and as mental as you’d expect from Steven [Moffat, Doctor Who showrunner]," Smith said. "So there’s a lot to look forward to. When Steven was going to pitch the next season to me not long ago, he said, ‘Are you ready to cry?’"

Smith is also looking forward to the 50th anniversary special which goes live in 2013, between the upcoming season and the one that follows.

"We want to do 50 years — and everyone that’s been associated with the show — justice," he said. "We want to go, ‘Look, world, here is Doctor Who. It’s 50 years old, a science-fiction show, still going and going from strength to strength’. Steven will do something brilliant. He’ll do something grand or maybe something very simple but he’ll come to it as a fan."

Here is the trailer (warning - spoilers) for the upcoming season:

The new season of Doctor Who kicks off this month on BBC One and BBC America.

Due to BBC budgeting constraints, the season will be split across the new year.